Keith Johnson

Keith Johnson

Senior Pastor

Pastor Keith was born in Knoxville, TN on February 24, 1959 to Kyle and Bernice Johnson. Keith was one of seven children. He graduated from Central High School in 1977 and was called into ministry during a student led revival in 1978. He received a designated scholarship to attend Liberty University.

During his years at Liberty, he met Nancy Lorenz and they married in 1982. Their first daughter, Megan Rose was born the month after Keith graduated in 1984. They moved back to Knoxville and Keith took his first ministry position at Corryton Baptist Church as their Singles and Outreach Minister. In 1986 Pastor Keith was called to EMBC as Assistant Pastor, working with youth and children. While there, God blessed them with a 2nd daughter, Katie Lynn, who was born in 1988.

Keith was called as pastor to Unity Baptist Church in 1989. While serving as pastor at Unity, God called Keith out of local church ministry to overseas ministry. In 1991, he moved his family to Louisiana to pursue his Master of Divinity at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. After receiving his MDiv from New Orleans, Keith and Nancy served with the International Mission Board from 1994-2002. In February of 2003, Keith was called as senior pastor here at East Maryville. This coming February will be Pastor Keith's 14th year as the senior pastor here at East Maryville.